Meet Our Staff

We believe that the church is called to worship God and to support those who participate in its life as they grow in faith.

Emily Chapman

Senior Pastor

Ginny Griggs

Community Pastor

Ashley Hamel

Director of Discipleship

Wes Landry

Director of Music

Carmen Velez

Director of Operations

Craig Simons

Special Projects manager

Alitta Palomo

Administrative Assistant

Tiffany George

CDC Director

Sydney McDaniel

Youth Director

Claudia Padilla

Children's Coordinator

Bill West

Organist

Rev. Emily Chapman

Senior Pastor

[email protected]

My favorite Houston restaurant is:
There are so many. You can find me at Onion Creek a lot- its my second office. I also love Teotihuacan and Niko Nikos. For a fancier event, a couple of the best meals I’ve had in Houston were at Squable in the Heights and Nobie’s in Montrose.

My favorite part of being in the St. Mark’s family is:
that St. Mark’s is a place that likes to have fun together and has a good sense of humor. We’ve had to deal with lots of serious things together, but we never lose sight of the joy.

When I am not working, you can usually find me:
Lately, to my surprise, you can find me outdoors. I’ve embraced urban hiking and love trying new trails and routes exploring Houston.

Something people may not know about St. Mark’s is:
St. Mark’s was formed from the merger of two churches that had split over slavery. We are pretty sure from our research that we are among the first, if not the first, Methodist Church in the country to re-unite after this split. Also the first building of our ancestor congregation, Emmanuel German Methodist Episcopal, was on the site where Minute Maid Park now stands!

 

Rev. Ginny Griggs

Community Pastor

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My favorite Houston restaurant is:
Coltivare

My favorite part of being in the St. Mark’s family is:
There is room for everyone to be exactly who they are

When I am not working, you can usually find me:
Reading, on a walk, or napping

Something people may not know about St. Mark’s is:
It’s one of only two churches (that we know of) in the Texas Annual Conference led by ALL female clergy!

Ashley Hamel

Director of Discipleship

[email protected]

My favorite Houston restaurant is:
Still in the research phase.

My favorite part of being in the St. Mark’s family is:
How quickly the sense of belonging happened. I also love how fast I’m learning about the community because THEY love the community well.

When I am not working, you can usually find me:
Snuggling my pets : Theodore and Bean (cats) & Taluella and Dasher (Dogs). When not snuggling them, I’m taking photos of them. When I’m not doing that I’m probably checking out a coffee shop, book store, or a local business.

Something people may not know about St. Mark’s is: People at St. Mark’s are very serious about their food recommendations. And of course, being neighborly. :)

 

Wesley Landry

Director of Music

My favorite Houston restaurant is:
different every day! My current favorites are Stanton’s City Bites and Theodore Rex!

My favorite part of being in the St. Mark’s family is:
the celebration of our diversity as a strength and reflection of God.

When I am not working, you can usually find me:
perfecting my cookie recipes or tending to my garden!

Something people may not know about St. Mark’s is:
its strong music tradition; multiple choir members over the decades have sung for more than 40 years!

 

Carmen Velez

Director of Operations

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My favorite Houston restaurant is:
So many! China Garden, Spanish Flowers, Pele Pele, 1751 Sea , and, and , and……

My favorite part of being in the St. Mark’s family is:
Everyone is welcome here! No exceptions!

When I am not working, you can usually find me:
…at the Juice Box

Something people may not know about St. Mark’s is:
We have the best clergy, staff, and volunteers on the planet!

Craig Simons

Special Projects Manager

[email protected]

My favorite Houston restaurant is:
Puebla Mexican Kitchen

My favorite part of being in the St. Mark’s family is:
My whole family is involved in the church.

When I am not working, you can usually find me:
Fishing in Galveston Bay

Something people may not know about St. Mark’s is:
The bell in the church tower was cast in St. Louis Missouri in 1890.

 

Alitta Palomo

Admin Assistant

[email protected]

My favorite Houston restaurant is:
Birraporetti’s

My favorite part of being in the St. Mark’s family is:
Everyone is welcomed and you can feel the love when you are at St. Mark’s.

When I am not working, you can usually find me:
With my family.

 

Tiffany George

CDC Director

[email protected]

My favorite part of being in the St. Mark’s family is:
The community

When I am not working, you can usually find me:
crafting and hanging with my daughters.

 

Bill West

Organist

My favorite Houston restaurant is:
Mai’s

My favorite part of being in the St. Mark’s family is:
The love everyone shows

When I am not working, you can usually find me:
At home